Waterproof diamond-cover for base-ball fields.



E. A. MAMAUX. WATERPROOF DIAMOND COVER FOR BASH BALL FIELDS.

, Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

APPLICATION FILED APB.20, 1910.

2 sums-sum 1.

lNVENTOFI IlNlTED dTATES PATENT @FFIQE.

WATERPROOF DIAMOND-COVER FOR BASE-BALL FIELDS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 21, 1911.

Application filed April 20, 1910. Serial No. 556,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. MAMAUX, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsb-urg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in lVaterproof Diamond-Covers for Base-Ball Fields, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to water proof diamond covers for baseball fields, and the primary object of my invention is to provide a portable water proof cover that can be easily and quickly placed in position to protect the diamond of av baseball ground from rain and such moisture that would tend to soften the ground and prevent a game of base ball from being properly played.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel water proof cover that can be folded to occupy comparatively small space.

To this end, I have devised a large water proof cover adapted to be normally carried by a vehicle, which is taken to the center of a diamond and the cover rolled therefrom, said vehicle providing a central elevated point giving the cover sufficient inclination upon all sides thereof to drain rain from the cover.

With the above and such other objects in view as may hereinafter appear, the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter specifically described and then claimed, and reference will now be had to the drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that the structural elements thereof can be varied or changed, as to the size, shape and manner of assemblage, without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cover upon a vehicle, Fig. 2 is a bottom plan of the cover, Fig. 3 is a top plan of the same, Fig. 4 is an end view of the cover illustrating the manner of folding the same, and Fig. '5 is a plan of the cover partly folded.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates a rectangular piece of canvas or water proof material, which is made of a sufficient size to cover the diamond or principal area of a baseball field. The outer edges of the cover are reinforced and provided with equally spaced hand grips 2 and with eyelets 3 for cables 4. Transversely of the cover 1 I arrange four rows of alternately positioned hand grips, these grips together with the grips 2 and the cables at facilitating the stretching of the cover upon a baseball diamond. The grips 5 are carried by trans verse cables or straps 5 suitably secured to the-top of the cover, and it is preferable to use these rows of grips in sets whereby the cover can be easily stretched.

In connection with the cover I use a suitable vehicle for transporting the same, said vehicle comprising trucks 6 and a platform 7 provided at its edges with detachable or pivotally connected gang-ways 8. These gang-ways 8 assist in loading or unloading that portion of the cover removed from the Vehicle.

The manner of folding the cover is as fol.- lows :The longitudinal edges A are folded inwardly to a center line B (see Figs. 2 and 4) and then the longitudinal edges 0 are folded inwardly to confront one another, as shown in Fig. 5, and the cover is now ready to be rollec. The transverse edges D are now rolled toward one another, the cables 4 winding upon the rolls, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The other cables are folded inwardly with the folds of the cover, whereby they will not become entangled or interfere with the rolling of the transverse edges of the cover.

It will be observed from the novel manner of folding the cover that the same can be easily and quickly spread over a surface and that with the vehicle as a central elevating point, rain or Water will easily drain to the edges of the cover. The cover serves as a large tarpaulin and is adapted to shield the surface of a diamond and prevent the surface from being injured by water or the forces of nature.

My invention aims to obviate the necessity of postponing baseball games due to wet grounds, and I would have it understood that a plurality of covers can be used for protecting the out-fields or any part of a baseball park.

Having now described my invention what I claim as new, is

1. A diamond cover for baseball fields, in-

eluding a rectangular piece of waterproof material foldable upon itself to provide a.

strip and with the ends of the strip rolled toward each other to provide a pair of rolls, oppositely extending cables attached to two of the edges of said piece of material to facilitate the unwinding of said rolls in opposite directions with respect to each other, and means for transporting said duplex rolled strip to the point desired, and constituting an elevated support for said piece of material when extended and further eonstituting means for causing the draining of water from off said piece of material when the latter is covering the field, said means including a plurality of gang-ways to assist in rolling and nnrolling the strip on and from said means.

2. A diamond cover for baseball fields, including a piece of waterproof material foldable upon itself to provide a narrow strip with the ends of the strips rolled toward each other to provide a pair of rolls, oppositely extending cables attached to two of the edges of said piece of material to facilitate the unwinding of said rolls in opposite directions with respect to each other, a portable platform for supporting said rolled strip, and gang-ways carried by the platform to facilitate the winding and unwinding of said rolls on and off the platform, said platform providing means for elevating the central portion of said material when the latter is extended whereby the provision is had for drainage of Water from said material when the latter is extended.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EUGENE A. MAMAUX. \Vitnesses C. A. RENzIEHAUsEN, K. H. BUTLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

